Shadowgate

Verbannon · Joined: 30 Sep 2013 Posts: 398

Looks like most everything is already there for random characters, why not a quick character button right after thecsex is selected and account associated, that instantly generates a random character? Just need something that lets a player change the name to one that better fits the race, or better yet a proper race name is auto selected.

For people who want to try rping the classic Zero to ? way.
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cyric · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2017 8:52 am Post subject:

I think this would be good for beginner players. Chargen is tedious and this would get them into the game faster.

Nienne · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2017 10:35 am Post subject:

Chargen is actually fairly user friendly these days, Saide rewrote it all.

cyric · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2017 11:35 am Post subject:

Verbannon · Joined: 30 Sep 2013 Posts: 398

Ive been thinking a lot lately about alts and why I still play Verbannon. And although my goto reason is true, That giving up Verbannon would make me feel like a failure, that I "lost".

But the more I think about it, the more I realize the biggest reason is simply that I dont have have any character ideas that would work in Shadowgate. My last serious attempt at a new character failed horrendously and it was because it just couldnt be supported in Shadowgate.

And thats pretty much the problem every. single. idea. I have has. The exception is a couple ideas which I would just bore of once the novelty wore off.

The only reason Verbannon has lasted is because he was my test character. A simple practically blank slate character that managed to grow through RP and a massive amount of treasure hunting to pass the time. And like half of his character was happenstance and created when human ethnicities was released. Which isnt something that can be repeated.

So that means if I am to ever make a character other than Verbannon, Shadowgate needs a true random character generator. Having it generate personality, goals and a background outline (In the form of generated event points) might be nice but isnt necessary. Especially since whatever my next character would be, all I know is it will be good aligned.

Because I personally am incapable of creating a character on Shadowgate.
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Verbannon · Joined: 30 Sep 2013 Posts: 398

And just a note, My problem isnt making characters that others find fun and interesting. Since I know someone out there thinks thats what Im talking about. Thats freakishly easy. Only thing a character needs to do to be considered a great, fun and interesting character is actually do something no matter how minor or inane. Thats why every single one of my attempted alts has been well recieved by most other players.

My problrm is I cant concieve of a character that fits in Shadowgate and is complex enough for me to enjoy.

So thats why I need a random character. So I dont actually have to concieve of anything.All I have to do is roleplay and fill in the blanks.
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Whisper · Joined: 27 Jun 2017 Posts: 17

It is a pity your thinking is so narrow Verbie. Shadowgate is a huge place with so many races to choose from. All one needs is a simple concept to start with a nd then build on that. Get out of your tiny box my man and take a chance. What's the worst that happens, you don't like the char and make another? Well so what make another and another until you find one that suits you. Your char need not be something odd or strange, although that sometimes helps flashing it out. Just make something and don't expect Imm's to automate a process for you. Have fun man!

Verbannon · Joined: 30 Sep 2013 Posts: 398

I do not agree wuth your critism that my view is narrow ect. I declare it invalid but will not argue the point. Because arguing is bad.
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Mikyn · Joined: 02 Jul 2015 Posts: 32

I don't think Whisper was trying to insult you, merely suggesting an alternative path. I've had plenty of success with complex characters, with a thorough understanding of their motives... but at the same time, I've also had a lot of success and satisfying RP with characters that were created more organically. As Whisper said, just rolling a character with almost a blank slate and reacting to what's presented can also potentially lead to complex and fulfilling characters.

Verbannon · Joined: 30 Sep 2013 Posts: 398

I altered my response after further consideration of my word choice.
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Verbannon · Joined: 30 Sep 2013 Posts: 398

I just did a manually random character to get that blank slate using a number generator. Because alignment is one of the last things picked I had no way of limiting myself to just the 'good' races. And ended up with a lawful neutral hobgoblin thief that worships Auppenser.

If I were to roleplay this character, although I could keep it technically true to within the race. Since I dont like playing as villains, Ill almost certainly be accused of breaking the spirit of the race.

And thats why a generator is necessary, so parameters like alignment can be set. Though I guess I could go through each of the available races and manually count out which ones arent monster races then roll the generator for that seperate result.
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Verbannon · Joined: 30 Sep 2013 Posts: 398

Also Ill point out that what you call a concept and what I consider a concept, are two dismetrically opposed definitions. To me a simple concept is like "Individual who values strength as a moral precept. So has devoted his life to helping train others to become strong, rather than remain dependent on the strength of others." And tben once in practice I just try to pick whatever mechanics seem to fit closest. I got lucky with Verbannon as Trainer wasnt inpossible to pull off in Shadowgate. Just sticking with the concept as close as possible handicapped him greatly while he was a fighter. [Since I reasoned a trainer probably wouldnt specialize)

Other concepts like "An ambitious Kobold who found a children's book about pirates in the garbage dreams of hecoming a pirate. And hopes to one day relocafe his entire warren to some desert island filled with captured booty where they can live in wealth, safety and prosperity forever and ever while terrorizing the seven seas and earning the respect of all the snobby baddie races." Turned out to be a lot less acceptable in Shadowgate, moght have been more acceptable if I played it like a straight villain, but I dislike playing villains.

Point is these concepts can be hsrd to apply mechanics to. Some like "Tiefling with a shoulder angel(celestial)" Seem so simple as to be easily done, but turn out later to be impossible.

And now most of you are utterly bewildered, unable to comprehend the problem. You say like "Why not just play a tiefling... without the shoulder angel?"

To which I want to say Thats imbecillic, the aestetic of the pairing is the whole point.

But its not really your fault you cant grasp it. You just are accostomed so much to building your characters from the other end. Starting with the mechanics then fitting some rp to it. To you a concept is

"Halfling Barbarian"

A race and a class, thats it. You have fun thinking of your feat selections, your weapon choice and maybe some funny mannerisms. And then you are set.

The main reason that doesnt work for me, is that I simply dont care in the slightest bit about feat and power and spell selection.Except how jt affects my RP.

Which makes my physically incapable of just picking a race and class because without an RP concept to fit it in, they are all equally meaningless to me.

Its like being given a platter of identical flavored but different looking cupcakes. And having to choose one. It doesnt matter. Except with the cupcakes one can just grab the first in line.

And although I have no logical reason why I cant just grab Barbarian Centaur (I think thats what you get if you just grab the first in line). Some kind of ill defined emotional reaction prevents me.

Which is why random character generation is so personally valuable to me.
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kassius · Site Admin Joined: 17 Aug 2017 Posts: 243

I think you're underestimating the time that certain players put into their character concepts. Not all players, but the RP heavy ones I know for sure do. I'm highly against this idea as we have limited resources and the main one being immortal volunteer time. I'd rather them spend time on coding things that actually matter like factions or real political control for players.

You are a good rper Verbie, but you need to leave the preconceived ideas at home and alt them to SG. Ive seen countless people try Batman type role for example and it rarely works. Just find something you enjoy and Rp man. It is just a game and you're entirely overthinking pretty much everything about it.

Kas

Verbannon · Joined: 30 Sep 2013 Posts: 398

My initial reflex was to not respond and to leave Shadowgate for another 2 weeks. Just with a timer to avoid another pk flag. That way no one could say I was 'arguing' or being 'exhausting'. But Ill try a more productive approach.

Whisper · Joined: 27 Jun 2017 Posts: 17

I will try not to dumb this down too much because I obviously have trouble understanding the vast concepts you describe Verbie, but here goes. You have taken the idea of a simple concept to the extreme by encompassing it into two words. Halfling barbarian is not really a concept, it is a race and occupation. Why not improve on that, perhaps a Halfling barbarian that was forced to leave his village because he was a bit too bloodthirsty...add more to that as you please. On the other hand to say you want to make a tielfing with a shoulder celestial is not valid. That is like saying you want to make a human warrior with enchanted chainmail and he is a general. Make your character within the limits of the character. Human warriors start out naked and with no rank or the very most a private....grow into a magic chain mail general from there over time and rp it. Tiefling do not have shoulder celestials... and you are right, I will say make a tielfling, but discuss the possibility of encountering a possible shoulder companion along the way with an avatar. I once made a split personality fey'ri, within the limits of a fey'ri. When he was in fey'ri form he was one sane personality and when he was in elf form he was the other. The elf form was insane and would converse with the fey'ri side as another person that he swore he could see.

Make a concept within the confines of the character and if you need help outside of it, get an avatar to approve and help or don't do it.